Captain Kerr’s record ton powers New Zealand ahead of T20WC

New Zealand v Zimbabwe, 1st T20I scorecard

Melie Kerr scored a historic century to mark the beginning of her reign as New Zealand women’s skipper.

In the first T20I against Zimbabwe on Wednesday, the all-rounder became the first-ever to score a women’s T20I hundred on her captaincy debut.

It was Kerr’s first triple digit score in the format, and only the third instance of a White Ferns player doing so in the format’s history.

Having won their maiden ICC Women's T20 World Cup title in 2024, the defending champions will be bolstered by their captain’s accomplishment as they set out to defend their crown this summer in England and Wales.

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Having been put in to bat first by Zimbabwe in Hamilton in the first of three T20Is, Kerr came out all guns blazing with the bat.

In her unbeaten knock of 101 off 51 deliveries, the right-handed batter pierced a total of 19 boundaries, scoring at a strike rate of 198.03.

Her contributions weren’t solely with the bat. Kerr, who had finished the leading wicket-taker at the previous Women’s T20 World Cup, bagged figures of 2/14 to seal a comprehensive 92-run victory.

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Kerr recently took over as the all-format captain from White Ferns legend, Sophie Devine, who had announced her ODI retirement at the end of last year’s ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup in India and Sri Lanka.

New Zealand will be hoping for their captain and ace all-rounder to continue her form as they head into the first-ever 12-team T20 World Cup in June-July.

Slotted in Group B, alongside hosts England, Sri Lanka, West Indies, Scotland and Ireland, they will play their first match on June 13 at the Hampshire Bowl against the Windies.

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